Wig comprising cap with nano-silver

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a wig comprising cap with nano-silver that exhibits antibacterial activity. The wig comprising cap with nano-silver of the current invention exhibits antibacterial and disinfecting effects on the hair and scalp of a wearer, by applying the net and lace each formed of fibers with nano-silver to the cap of the wig, and/or by applying nano-silver to the hair of the wig. Thus, when wearing the wig of the current invention, the scalp of the wearer may be kept healthy, and the occurrence of skin diseases due to bacteria maybe prevented.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a wig comprising cap with nano-silver which exhibits antibacterial activity.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, wigs, which include full wigs, partial wigs or bald wigs, are composed of a wig cap having a curved surface fitting the shape of the head of a user, and a plurality of hairs attached to the wig cap. The wig cap comprises a net or reticular system formed of nylon fiber, polyester fibers, etc., or of polyurethane fibers, polyester fibers, etc. In addition, the wig cap is made of artificial skin formed by a soft synthetic resin, such as polyurethane, polycarbonate, etc. The wig hair includes natural hair, artificial hair, or combinations thereof

To the wig cap comprising a net or reticular system, a plurality of hairs made of natural hair and/or artificial hair is bound to form a wig. As such, each wig hair is folded and fixedly bound at its folded portion to the wig cap so as to form a pair of hair halves extending outwards from the surface of the wig cap. The wig cap made of soft artificial skin also has a structure similar to the wig cap comprising a net or reticular system.

In the case where the hairs are attached to the wig cap comprising a net, the attachment direction or arrangement of the hairs may be appropriately selected, and various hair knots may be used to prevent the hairs from being removed from the wig cap.

However, upon wearing the wig thus manufactured, hygiene problems in the scalp of a wearer may be caused.

That is, since the scalp of the wearer is isolated from external air during wearing the wig, heat and sweat are not appropriately discharged, and the scalp becomes moist. Hence, while waste and dust accumulate on the scalp of the wearer, conditions suitable for bacteria are formed, whereby the scalp becomes weak and skin diseases easily occur.

To solve the above problems, Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2003-3128 discloses a wig, which has silver or platinum exhibiting antibacterial and deodorization effects attached to an internal surface thereof, in which a thin sheet-like silver or platinum layer is covered with an attachment fabric and then attached to a net of the wig. However, according to the above patent, heat and sweat of the scalp are not emitted from the portion to which the thin sheet of silver or platinum is attached. Hence, upon wearing the above wig for a long time period, skin diseases such as prickly heat may occur. Further, the use of platinum results in an increased manufacturing cost, therefore negating economic benefits.

On the other hand, when gold or silver is powdered to a nanometer size, metal properties such as conductivity, antibacterial activity, deodorization and emission of far infrared rays are drastically improved due to a decreased particle size. Thus, desired effects or better may be obtained even with the use of a much smaller amount of nanosized gold or silver, resulting in economic benefits.

In particular, nano-silver, which is obtained by pulverizing silver to tens of to hundreds of nm (10⁻⁹ meter), and preferably, ones of nm, exhibits excellent antibacterial/disinfecting activities and deodorization effects on about 650 species of bacteria including Escherichia coli. Moreover, nano-silver is harmless to the human body, less expensive, and semi-permanent. Recently, nano-silver has thus been applied to various fields such as home appliances, fiber products, construction materials, infant articles, medical supplies, various living articles, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present inventors have used nano-silver, exhibiting antibacterial effects, to manufacture a wig, thus keeping the scalp of a user healthy and preventing the occurrence of skin diseases due to bacteria, which led to the present invention.

An object of the present invention is to provide a wig exhibiting antibacterial effects by applying nano-silver to the cap and/or hair of a wig.

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a wig comprising cap with nano-silver, which comprises a wig cap including a net with nano-silver, and a plurality of hairs, implanted in the surface of the wig cap to extend outwards.

The net with nano-silver may constitute all or part of the wig cap. Further, the net with nano-silver is preferably used on all or part of a parietal portion of the wig cap.

The net with nano-silver may be manufactured by impregnating a fiber material with nano-silver to manufacture fibers which are then used to manufacture a net, or by spraying nano-silver onto a net.

In the present invention, nano-silver having a diameter of 20-100 nm may be used. In consideration of spinnability in the preparation of fibers, nano-silver having a diameter as small as possible is preferably used.

In addition, nano-silver is preferably contained in an amount from 25 to 150 ppm in fibers. If the amount of nano-silver is too small, antibacterial activity is decreased. Meanwhile, if the above amount is too large, the preparation cost increases, thus negating economic benefits, and also, spinnability of the prepared fibers is inferior.

The net forming the wig cap includes a non-patterned net or a patterned net, for example, a mono net, a flower patterned net, etc. In addition, it is preferable that the net be colored similarly to the color of the scalp or hair of a wearer.

Further, the present invention provides a wig comprising a net to which a plurality of lace bands with nano-silver is attached throughout temporal portions and an occipital portion in a direction toward an occipital portion from the parietal portion of the wig cap, in which the lace band preferably contains nano-silver and has elasticity.

The lace band with nano-silver may be manufactured by impregnating a fiber material with nano-silver to obtain fibers which are then used to manufacture lace, or by spraying nano-silver onto lace.

In addition, in the wig of the present invention, nano-silver is preferably contained in each of the plurality of hairs implanted in the surface of the wig cap to extend outwards.

The above hair may be manufactured by impregnating a fiber material with nano-silver to form artificial hair according to a conventional method of manufacturing artificial hair, or by spraying nano-silver onto artificial hair.

As such, nano-silver having a diameter ranging from 20 to 100 nm may be used, and preferably, nano-silver having a diameter as small as possible is used, in consideration of spinnability in the preparation of fibers.

In addition, nano-silver is preferably contained in fibers in an amount from 25 to 150 ppm. If the amount of nano-silver is too small, antibacterial activity is decreased. On the other hand, when the above amount is too large, the preparation cost increases, thus negating economic benefits, and also, spinnability of the prepared fibers is inferior.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a wig comprising cap with nano-silver of the present invention, which is turned inside out.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawing.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wig comprising cap with nano-silver of the present invention, which is turned inside out.

As shown in FIG. 1, the wig comprising cap with nano-silver of the present invention includes a wig cap 100 fitting the shape of the skull of a user, and a plurality of hairs 200, implanted in the outer surface of the wig cap 100 to extend outwards.

The wig cap 100 is composed of four portions, that is, a parietal portion 110, a pair of temporal portions 120, an occipital portion 130, and a pair of ear support portions 140.

Upon wearing the wig, since the skin, such as the forehead and parietal region of the user, is in direct contact with the parietal portion 110 of the wig cap 100, much sweat and heat are generated. Thus, the parietal portion 110 of the wig cap 100 is formed of a net with nano-silver. In addition, an end 111 of the parietal portion 110 of the wig cap 100, which is positioned toward the forehead of the user, is formed of a cloth made of a cotton flannel, velvet, etc., as a soft material. In the drawing, at an inverse U-shaped area formed at a boundary line between the parietal portion 110 and the temporal and occipital portions 120 and 130, the parietal portion 110 and the temporal and occipital portions 120 and 130 are connected to each other using a lace band 112 with nano-silver.

A plurality of lace bands 131, and preferably, 2-10 lace bands 131, which contain nano-silver, are attached to the net of the wig cap 100 at regular intervals of 2-4 cm throughout both temporal portions 120 and the occipital portion 130 in a direction toward the occipital portion 130 from the parietal portion 110 of the wig cap 100.

The pair of ear support portions 140 are positioned near the ears of the wearer upon wearing the wig, and are attached at lower ends of the temporal portions 120.

Since the wig comprising cap with nano-silver of the present invention includes the net and lace band each with nano-silver, it can exhibit excellent antibacterial and disinfecting effects. Thus, when wearing the wig, the propagation of bacteria due to sweat and heat generated from the head of the wearer may be inhibited, and therefore, the scalp of the wearer is kept healthy and the occurrence of skin diseases due to bacteria may be prevented.

In addition, the wig comprising cap with nano-silver of the present invention includes the hairs with nano-silver, and hence, can manifest higher antibacterial and disinfecting effects, therefore preventing the occurrence of skin diseases due to bacteria

A better understanding of the present invention may be obtained in light of the following example which is set forth to illustrate, but is not to be construed to limit the present invention.

EXAMPLE Manufacture of Wig with Nano-Silver

1) Manufacture of Net and Lace with Nano-Silver

As a fiber with nano-silver, Mipan Nano Magic Silver fibers available from Hyosung Corp., Korea, were used to manufacture a mono net, a flower patterned net, and lace.

2) Measurement of Antibacterial Activity of Net and Lace with Nano-Silver

The antibacterial test was conducted in FITI Testing & Research Institute, Korea.

Antibacterial activities of a fine mono net (SJ-35-1), a flower patterned net (SJ-32), and lace (KS K 0693-2001), each of which was made of yams with nano-silver, were tested. As such, as a control, a standard fabric (KS K 0905-2003), as a cotton fabric, was used.

As strains for use in the measurement of antibacterial activity, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 4352) were used. For the strains used, initial cell number, and cell number after culture for 18 hr were counted. The test results were shown in cell number/ml and reduction rate of bacteria (%).

The results of the antibacterial activities of the fine mono net and flower patterned net are given in Table 1 and 2, respectively, below. Also, the results of the antibacterial activity of the lace are given in Table 3, below. TABLE 1 Fine Strain Control Mono Net ATCC 6538 Initial Cell Number 1.6 × 10⁴ 1.6 × 10⁴ After 18 hr 6.3 × 10⁶ <10 Reduction of Bacteria (%) — 99.9 ATCC 4352 Initial Cell Number 2.1 × 10⁴ 2.1 × 10⁴ After 18 hr 7.2 × 10⁶ <10 Reduction of Bacteria (%) — 99.9

As is apparent from Table 1, although initial cell numbers of each strain were the same on the control and the fine mono net, the cell number on the control was increased to 6.3×10⁶ after culture for 18 hr, whereas almost all of the bacteria on the net with nano-silver died. From this, the net with nano-silver was confirmed to exhibit excellent antibacterial and disinfecting effects. TABLE 2 Flower Patterned Strain Control Net ATCC 6538 Initial Cell Number 2.5 × 10⁴ 2.5 × 10⁴ After 18 hr 4.8 × 10⁶ <10 Reduction of Bacteria (%) — 99.9 ATCC 4352 Initial Cell Number 2.7 × 10⁴ 2.7 × 10⁴ After 18 hr 8.4 × 10⁶ <10 Reduction of Bacteria (%) — 99.9

TABLE 3 Strain Control Lace ATCC 6538 Initial Cell Number 2.0 × 10⁴ 2.0 × 10⁴ After 18 hr 3.2 × 10⁶ <10 Reduction of Bacteria (%) — 99.9 ATCC 4352 Initial Cell Number 2.2 × 10⁴ 2.2 × 10⁴ After 18 hr 9.6 × 10⁶ <10 Reduction of Bacteria (%) — 99.9

As is apparent from Tables 2 and 3, although initial cell numbers of each strain were the same on the control and the flower patterned net or lace, the cell number on the control was increased after culture for 18 hr, whereas almost all of the bacteria on the net and lace each with nano-silver died. From this, the net and lace each with nano-silver were confirmed to exhibit excellent antibacterial and disinfecting effects.

Therefore, the net and lace each made of fibers with nano-silver are used in the cap of the wig comprising cap with nano-silver of the present invention, whereby the wig of the present invention may inhibit the propagation of bacteria due to sweat and heat generated from the head of the wearer, and thus, may exhibit antibacterial and disinfecting effects on the hair and the scalp of the wearer.

3) Preparative Example 1 Manufacture of Wig Using Net with Nano-Silver

A wig comprising cap with nano-silver was manufactured using the net and lace each with nano-silver (FIG. 1).

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the wig of the present invention when turned inside out.

The wig of the present invention includes a wig cap 100 fitting the shape of the skull of the wearer, and a plurality of hairs 200 implanted in the outer surface of the wig cap 100 to extend outwards. The wig cap 100 includes four portions, that is, the parietal portion 110, the temporal portions 120, the occipital portion 130, and the ear support portions 140.

The parietal portion 110 of the wig, which comes into direct contact with the skin, such as the forehead and parietal region of the wearer, and generates much sweat and heat, was formed of the mono net with nano-silver. In addition, to the end 111 of the parietal portion 110 which is positioned toward the forehead of the wearer, a cloth made of cotton flannel as a soft material was attached. In the drawing, at the inverse U-shaped area formed at a boundary line between the parietal portion 110 and the temporal and occipital portions 120 and 130, the parietal portion 110 and the temporal and occipital portions 120 and 130 were connected to each other using a lace band 112 with nano-silver. 9 lace bands 131 with nano-silver were attached to the net of the wig cap 100 at regular intervals of 2-4 cm throughout the temporal portions 120 and the occipital portion 130 in a direction toward the occipital portion 130 from the parietal portion 110 of the wig cap 100.

A pair of ear support portions 140 were positioned near the ears of the wearer upon wearing the wig, and were attached to the lower ends of the temporal portions 120.

In this way, the wig, comprising cap with nano-silver of the present invention, was manufactured.

The wig comprising cap with nano-silver of the present invention, manufactured using the net and lace, each with nano-silver exhibiting antibacterial and disinfecting activities, is advantageous because the propagation of bacteria due to sweat and heat generated from the head of the wearer, may be inhibited. Thus, the scalp of the wearer is kept healthy and the occurrence of skin diseases due to bacteria may be prevented.

4) Preparative Example 2 Manufacture of Wig Using Net with Nano-Silver

A wig comprising cap with nano-silver was manufactured in the same manner as in Preparative Example 1, with the exception that artificial hairs with nano-silver were used as the plurality of hairs 200 implanted in the outer surface of the wig cap 100 to extend outwards.

Thus, in the wig comprising cap with nano-silver of the present invention, since nano-silver is contained not only in the wig cap but also in the hairs of the wig, antibacterial and disinfecting effects can be further increased, therefore preventing the occurrence of skin diseases due to bacteria

As described above, the present invention provides a wig comprising cap with nano-silver. The wig comprising cap with nano-silver of the present invention exhibits antibacterial and disinfecting effects on the hair and the scalp of the wearer, and thus, the scalp of the wearer is kept healthy and the occurrence of skin diseases due to bacteria may be effectively prevented.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims. 

1. A wig comprising cap with nano-silver, which comprises a wig cap including a net with nano-silver, and a plurality of hairs implanted in a surface of the wig cap to extend outwards.
 2. The wig as set forth in claim 1, wherein the net with nano-silver constitutes all or part of the wig cap.
 3. The wig as set forth in claim 2, wherein the net with nano-silver constitutes all or part of a parietal portion of the wig cap.
 4. The wig as set forth in claim 3, further comprising a plurality of lace bands with nano-silver, which are attached to the net of the wig cap throughout temporal portions and an occipital portion in a direction toward the occipital portion from the parietal portion of the wig cap.
 5. The wig as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of hairs of the wig is hair with nano-silver. 